Henderson native graduates from U.S. Military Academy

Dick Benoit

Thursday, June 12, 2003 | 9:08 a.m.

Green Valley High School class of 1997 graduate, Kenneth Heebner was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army following commencement ceremonies at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., May 31.

Heebner, the son of Paul Heebner and Shirley Hildebrand, both of Henderson, has chosen field artillery as his branch of the Army. He will attend Officers Basic Training at Fort Sill, Okla.

The mission of the U.S. Military Academy is to educate, train and inspire cadets so that each graduate becomes a leader of character committed to the values of "Duty, Honor, Country," and a lifetime of selfless service to the nation.

Sailor headed to Naval Academy

A Clark High School graduate has parlayed an enlisted tour in the Navy into an all expenses paid college education and commission as a naval officer. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott Lord, Clark High School class of 2000 and son of Janis and Budd Burns of Las Vegas, recently received an appointment to the Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.

At the Naval Academy, Lord will be prepared morally, intellectually and physically to become one of the future leaders of the Navy. In addition to instilling the highest ideals of honor, courage and commitment, the Naval Academy will offer Lord a bachelor of science degree in one of 18 academic majors in engineering, math, science, social sciences and the humanities.

During the summers, Lord will receive on-the-job training on surface ships, submarines, aircraft and at Marine Corps units. Upon graduation, Lord will be commissioned as a Navy or Marine Corps officer.

In brief

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Andrew Rodriguez, son of Encledes Rodriguez of Las Vegas and Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Christina Walker, daughter of Dana Trevino-Fairbanks of Las Vegas, are among the more than 6,000 Pacific Fleet sailors and Marines aboard the ships of the USS Nimitz Carrier Battle Group.

Rodriguez is 1985 graduate of Western High School.